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ABSTRACT
The Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy (ISM&H) were given an independent identity in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 1995 by creating a separate Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) in November 2003. Mainstreaming of AYUSH implies integration of infrastructure, manpower and medicines of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) to strengthen the public health care delivery and strengthen the AYUSH systems at grass root level by establishing a linkage between modern medicine and AYUSH systems in a collaborative way. Mainstreaming of AYUSH is a policy commitment of government of India and it received momentum by the launch of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in April, 2005. The present study was done in two villages of district Yamunanagar, Haryana on the sample of 25 which consisted professional allopathic doctors, traditional healers and village respondents to know their awareness and attitudes regarding AYUSH. In the present study it was found that the potential barriers that emerge are the lack of awareness about the government's AYUSH scheme and for successful implication it is required that awareness at grass root level should be promoted.
INTRODUCTION
Medical anthropology is a very broad interdisciplinary sub-sector of anthropology. It deals with evolution of the concept of medicine and health in diverse cultures, alternative forms of medicine, impact of culture and society on health. It also studies social peculiarities that affect health care systems and health awareness. In short, it is a field that encompasses the social aspect of medicine and the complications it creates.
The Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy (ISM&H) were given an independent identity in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 1995 by creating a separate Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) in November 2003. The department is entrusted with the responsibility of developing and propagating officially recognized systems, namely, Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Siddha, Unani, and Homoeopathy. This was done in explicit realization of contributions these ancient and holistic systems can make towards the health care of the people. These systems have marked superiority in addressing chronic conditions and offer a package of promotive and preventive interventions.
Encouragement to scientific research and education, laying down pharmacopoeial standards to ensure quality...